Adjustable tongue-hound



F. J. DULTMEIER.

ADJUSTABLE TONGUE HOUND. APPLICATION FILED NOV, 4. 1919.

Patented Dec. 28, 1920.

WETAZEJJ WM UWWEEE Sifdfitid ADJUSTABLE TONGUE-ROUND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 4, 1913. Serial No. 335,763. 1

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK J. DULTMEIER, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Manning, in the county of Carroll and State of Iowa,have invented a certain new and useful Adjustable Tongue-Hound, of whichthe following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an adjustable tongue hounddevice peculiarly adapted for use with tubular metal tongues.

lVith this and other objects in view my invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of thedevice, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinaftermore fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a top or plan view of a tubular metal tongue equippedwith an adjustable hound device embodying my inven tion, parts beingbroken away.

Fig. 2 shows a side elevation viewed from the outside of one of theadjustable hound members.

Fig. 3 shows a side elevation taken from the inside of said houndmember.

Fig. 4 shows a top or plan view of one of the hound members showing theconnecting links attached thereto.

Fig 5 shows a transverse, sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig.1.

Fig. 6 shows a side elevation of a part of the tongue and the forwardportion of the adjustable hound device.

Fig. 7 shows a top or plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 6, portionsbeing omitted.

Fig. 8 shows a sectional view taken on the line 88 of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 shows a transverse, vertical sectional view of the tongueequipped with a slightly modified form of my invention.

In the drawings herewith which illustrate my invention I have employedthe reference numeral 10 to indicate generally a tubular metal tongue ofthe kind commonly'in use. These tongues are preferably of suitable steeland ordinarily have in their lower surface a slot 11 extendinglongitudinally of the bottom of the tongue.

It is thought that the slot is necessary and that the tongues are morelasting and less likely to crystallize where the slot is employed thanwhere a complete tube is used.

It will be seen that with a tongue of this type there is involved aspecial problem in any attempt to mount on such a tongue an adjustablehound.

Ordinary clamp devices which might grip the tongue would beunsatisfactory because if the edges of the slot 11 were not forcedtogether, there would be such spring in the tongue as would make theclamps ineffective, whereas if such edges were forced together by meansof a clamp, then the beneficial results of the slot would be largelylost.

I have worked out a means for connecting an adjustable hound device withthis tongue so as to permit the ready adjustment of the hound device,and yet thoroughly lock the hound device to the tongue, in any of itsadjusted positions.

My improved hound device comprises two hound members spaced from thetongue 10 on opposite sides thereof, said hound members being preferablyof metal and having preferably the form shown in the drawings, andcomprising in each case a plate or strip or bar 12 having substantiallya central inwardly extending horizontal flange 13, provided at its rearend with an ear 14 and tapering slightly from its forward to itsrearward end as shown in Fig. 1.

At the forward end of the flange 13. is a portion 15 thicker than themain body of said flange for the attachment of the parts hereinaftermentioned. 7

The forward end of my improved adjustable hound device comprises arelatively short downwardly opening channel-shaped member 16 restingover the top of the tongue 10 in the manner illustrated in Figs. 1, 6, 7and 8.

The flanges or Walls of the channel-shaped member 16 terminatepreferably just. below the central medium line of the tongue.

Fitted against the outer surfaces of the channel-shaped member 16 at thesides thereof, are strips or bars 17 having at their rear ends laterallyextending horizontal ears 18, as shown in'Figs. 6, 7and 8.' 1

The strips or plates 17 are fastened to the side walls of thechannel-shaped members 16 and to the tongue 10 by bolts 19 extendingthrough said plates 17, and through the walls of the channel-shapedmember 16, and through the walls of the tongue 10.

In the upper wall of the tongue 10 substantially in line with theforward ends of the bound members 12 is a longitudinally Patented Dec.28, 1920.

elongated slot 20 and spaced rearwardly from the slot 20 and locatedbetween the rear ends of the adjustable hound members 12 is a similarslot 21. t

Extended through the forward ends of the flanges 13 are vertical bolts22 on which are pivoted the rear ends of links 23, which links extendforwardly and toward the tongue 10, and are pivoted at their forwardends to the ears 18.

There are two of the links 23 on each side of thetongue, one beinglocated above the Mounted on the bolt 22 above the flange 13 is a link26 which extends to the upper part of the tongue 10 and is pivoted onthe upper end of the bolt 24.

' ends of the bolts 30 and 28.

Mounted on the lower part'of each plate 22 is a similar link 26,extending to and mounted on the lower end of the bolt 24,

as clearly illustrated in Fig. 5.

It will be understood that the link construction is'the same on bothsides of the tongue.

On the bolt 24 is a nut27.

Extended through the slot 21 and the slot 11 is a bolt 28 similar to thebolt 24, and having mounted on it within the tongue a spacer sleeve 25such as that already de scribed.

The ears'14are each provided with a plurality of spaced holes 29.

Extending through one of said holes in eachear is a bolt 30. Mounted onthe bolt 30 above each ear 14 is a link 31 extending to and pivoted onthe upper end of the 1 bolt 28.

Similar links are secured to the lower The inner end of each link 31 isprovided with a plurality of openings 32 to selectively receive the bolt28.

It-will'be seen that the forward ends of the hound members 12 may beadjusted toward and from. the tongue 10 by loosening the nut27 andsliding the bolt 24 rearwardly or forwardly in the slots 20 and 11, andthen tightening the nut.

Similarly the rearward ends. of the hound members 12 may be adjustedtoward and from the tongue by loosening the nut 33 on the bolt 28andmoving the bolt28 forwardly or rearwardly in the slots 21 and 11.

p A further adjustment can be had by removing the links 31 from the bolt28 and mounting the bolt 28. in different holes 32.

Also further adjustment can be had by mounting the bolt 30 in differentholes 29 in the cars 14.

With the adjustment here provided my adjustable tongue device may beemployed for mounting a metal tongue inany make of wagon.

The inner ends of the links 26 may also be provided with pluralities ofholes 26 if desired for permitting further adjustment of. the parts bymounting a bolt 24 in different holes 26 a By means of the structureherein shown I am enabled to rigidly connect theadjustable hound memberswith a tubular-metal tongue havingthe slot 11, and yet a wide range ofadjustment is permitted.

In Fig. 9 I have shown a slightly modilied form of my invention- Thetongue and hound members are of the same construction as alreadydescribed. Instead offastening the inner ends of the links 26 and 31,however, in the manner hereinbefore mentioned, I dispense with thespacer sleeve 25 in the form of the invention shown in Fig. 9, and alsodo away with the bolt 24 and use two short bolts 35 and 36 at the topand lower portions of the tongue.

The advantages of an adjustable hound structure are so obvious that theyneed no comment.

In my present invention I have provided a simple and inexpensive andefficient means whereby an adjustable hound device may be properlyconnected with a tubular tongue having a longitudinal slot therein, soas to permit the ready and quick adjustment of the hound device, andalso in such manner that the hound device is rigidly fastened to thetongue when desired.

Some changes may be made in the. construction and arrangement ofmy'improved device without departing from the essential spirit andpurposes of my invention; andiit is my intention to cover by myclaimsany modified forms of structure or use of mechanicalequivalents-which may bereasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the class described -the combination of a hollowtubular tongue having a slot, extending. longitudinally thereof,elongated slots alined with each other and arranged opposite said firstslot, hound' members spaced from said tongue on opposite sides thereof,link devices extending from said hound members to said tongue, boltsextended through said linkdevices and through the respective elongatedslots and through said first slot, a sleeve on each bolt arranged withinthe tongue of larger diameter than the width-of said. slots, adapted toprevent the flattening of the tongue, when the nuts are screwed ontosaid bolts, nutsfor said bolts, links pivoted to the forward ends messesof said hound members, and means for connecting the forward ends of saiddescribed. links with said hollow tongue, having in its Wall oppositesaid slot, longitudinally spaced elongated bolt receiving slots.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a hollowtubular tongue having a slot, extending longitudinally thereof,elongated slots alined with each other and arranged opposite said firstslot, hound members spaced from said tongue on opposite sides thereof,link devices extending from said hound members to said tongue, boltsextended through said link devices and through the respective elongatedslots and through said first slot, a sleeve on each bolt arranged withinthe tongue, of larger diam eter than the width of said slots, adapted toprevent the flattening of the tongue, when the nuts are screwed ontosaid bolts, nuts for said bolts, links pivoted to the forward ends ofsaid hound members, means for connecting the forward ends of said lastdescribed links with said hollow tongue, having in its wall oppositesaid slot, longitudinally spaced elongated bolt receiving slots, saidmeans comprising a channel-shaped member, having said tongue receivedbetween its sides, bars secured to the walls of said channel-shapedmember, having laterally extending ears, bolts extending through saidbars and through the walls of said channel-shaped member, and throughsaid tongue from side to side for holding such parts together andarranged at right angles to said first described bolts.

Des Moines, Iowa October 13 1919.

FRANK J. DUL'lMEIER.

